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Author Topic: What was the first high wing airplane with gear retracting into the engine pods?  (Read 4484 times)

JimC

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So, I'm just curious - what was the first high wing tricycle multi engine plane with gear that retracted into the engine pods - in other words, where did the Commander design come from?

The B-24 is close, but it's a shoulder wing and the gear retracted into the wings, not into the engine pods.

The Percival Merganser (1946) is the earliest example I've found. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percival_Merganser

I think the first high wing retractable gear single engine plane was the Cessna CR-3, a very short-lived 1933 design. Wikipedia says it's a shoulder wing but the wing is flush with the top of the fuselage. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cessna_CR-3

Anyone know any earlier ones?
500B, B200

JimC

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Wow - I'm an idiot. The A-20 comes from a 1938 design, and one of the young engineers on that team was...Ted Smith.

I was asking because of this plane:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/46191393@N08/31809560065

Doesn't it give Commander-on-steroids vibes?
500B, B200

SKYFLYER

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I wonder if the gear rotates when retracted

donv

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I think the gear rotation thing came later?

SKYFLYER

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Yep your correct... I found a pic that the gear doors are closed and you can see the "bump" out for the tire.

https://www.airport-data.com/images/aircraft/001/281/001281573.jpg

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/d9/55/61/d95561dbd6705aea838fcee3177975af.jpg

JimC

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So there's a linkage in the front, but it retracts to the rear...there must be a knee joint in the gear?
500B, B200